Jamy Ian Swiss Book Reviews

Jamy Ian Swiss

For eighteen years (June 1994 - January 2013), Jamy Ian Swiss wrote thoughtful, opinionated, long-form reviews of magic books for Genii magazine. Jamy's reviews contain insights deeper than just product recommendations, and so we have worked to assemble the entire series (almost 450 magic book reviews) in one complete and fully searchable archive.

Also, from October 2016 through January 2020, Jamy wrote reviews for the Lyons Den at the Magicana website.

Read Jamy's essay, Critical Thinking on his tenure as a book reviewer, or search for, or choose a review below:

Search for a review:
Book Author Date
The Paper Engine Aaron Fisher & John Lovick

Sep 2002

Al Schneider Magic Al Schneider

Sep 2011

What's Up Deck? A Notebook On Card Magic Aldo Colombini

Oct 2005

The Close-Up Magic of Aldo Colombini Aldo Colombini

Oct 1994

Fooling Houdini Alex Stone

Jul 2012

The Baby Bag Algonquin McDuff

Nov 1996

Las Vegas Kardma Allan Ackerman

Oct 1994

The Essential Stewart James Allan Slaight

Oct 2007

The James File Allan Slaight

Aug 2000

52 Ways to Cheat at Poker Allan Zola Kronzek

Mar 2008

Destiny, Chance and Free Will & Other Presentations Allan Zola Kronzek

Jun 2000

Jack Parker's 52 Memories Andi Gladwin

May 2008

The Magician's LTD Cookbook Andi Gladwin

May 2007

Down Under Deals Andrew Wimhurst

Jan 1999

Adventures of 51 Magicians and a Fakir Angel ldigora

Sep 2005

St. George's Hall: Behind the Scenes at England's Home of Mystery Anne Davenport & John Salisse

May 2002

The Notebook Anonymous

May 2009

Ken Brooke's Magic Place Anthony Brahams

Oct 2005

The Magicians' Yearbook Anthony Owen

Sep 1998

The Complete Dungeon Anthony Owen

Mar 1996

Antiquarian Magic and Collectibles, Catalog 39 Antiquarian Magic and Collectibles

Nov 1994

Card Stories Ariel Frailich

Nov 1996

Milo & Roger: A Magical Life Arthur Brandon

Jul 1999

The Nazi Séance: The Strange Story of the Jewish Psychic in Hitler's Circle Arthur J. Magida

Jan 2012

The Magic of Ascanio: Ascanio's Knives and Color Blindness Arturo de Ascanio

Jan 2009

The Magic of Ascanio, Volume 2: Studies of Card Magic Arturo de Ascanio & Jesús Etcheverry

Sep 2006

The Magic of Ascanio: The Structural Conception of Magic Arturo de Ascanio; Jesús Etcheverry

Mar 2005

Chapter One Asi Wind

May 2010

New Era Card Tricks August Roterberg

Jul 2004

Psychological Subtleties 3 Banachek

Jan 2010

Psychological Subtleties 2 Banachek

Mar 2007

Psychological Subtleties Banachek

Jun 1999

Devices of Wonder Barbara Maria Stafford and Frances Terpak

May 2002

Theater Of The Mind Barrie Richardson

Nov 1999

The Thought Reader Craze: Victorian Science at the Enchanted Boundary Barry H. Wiley

Jan 2013

The Indescribable Phenomenon Barry H. Wiley

Jul 2005

The Magician: John Mulholland's Secret Life Ben Robinson

May 2009

Bill Goldman's Magic Bar & Grill Bill Goldman

May 2003

It's Not Fun To Be Fooled Bill Nagler, M.D

Jan 1998

Magic Around the World Bill Ragsdale

Nov 1994

The Now You See It, Now You Don't! Notebook Bill Tarr Kaufman

Mar 1999

Spirits On The Stage, And More Guarded Secrets Revealed Bob Blau

Sep 2005

The Artful Mentalism of Bob Cassidy Bob Cassidy

Jan 2005

Bob Read's Magical London: An Idler's Guide to the Magical Capital of the World Bob Read

Jan 2006

ACAAB: Any Card At Any Birthday Boris Wild

Jul 2011

Happiness Success! Interviews With Performers About Fame, Fortune And Happiness Brad Zupp

Oct 2005

Performing in Japan: Amusing Anecdotes and Helpful Hints Brad Zupp

Sep 1994

Under the Southern Cross Brian McCullagh

Jan 2002

Bruce Cervon's Castle Notebooks Volume One Bruce Cervon

Mar 2008

Caution: Practical Joker Ahead Bruce Walstad

Jul 2001